Post.



. FORD POST.

APPLIGATIONVI'ILED NOV. 5,1910.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

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UNIED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. FORD, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY T. P. BATES,OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

POST.

america.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known t-hat I, ARTHUR WV. FORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Quincy, in the county of Norfolk and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements inPosts, of which the following is a specification.

In the construction of posts for the support of electric wires and thelike, and par ticularly for the support of trolley wires, it iscustomary to build up the same from different sizes of metal pipes, inorder that the same may have the taper required for the sake ofappearance and economy in material. These sections of tubing are securedtogether in several ways, as by shrinking them together, threading onewithin the next larger, etc., but these are all open to variousobjections, such as expense, deterioration from rust, insufficientstrength, and danger from short-circuiting.

The object of this invention is the construction of a built-up postwhich shall be free from all such objections.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1is a vertical section of a post made in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a similar section but on a larger scale, of a part of the postin the process of construction. Fig. 3 is a similar view to that in Fig.2 but illustrating a further step in the process. Fig.

4 is a cross section on the dotted line X--X in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the different sections of pipe or tubing aresubstantially different in diameter, so that there will be considerablespace between the inner surface of one section and the outer surface ofthe section introduced therein. The desired number of sections havinbeen determined, as the three illustrated 1n Fig. 1, the largest section1 is suitably supported in a preferably vertical position, with itslower end closed, as by resting on a flat surface 2, it is filled withconcrete or other lapidescent material 3 up to the point 4, usually fromeigh teen inches to two feet from its top, as indicated in Fig. 2. Thenext smaller section of pipe 5 is then inserted within the empty upperpart of the pipe 1, suitably supported in line with the latter andconcentric therewith, its lower edge embedding itself more or less intothe concrete below. This pipe 5 and the annular space between it and thepipe 1 is next filled with concrete; said annular space being toppedwith a conical water-shed 6 preferablyoverhanging the top edge of thepipe 1, as shown in Fig. 3. For such overhang 7, a suitable removablemold 9 is needed. The pipe section 5 being thus filled to within afootor two from its top, athird section of tubing 10 is similarly introducedtherein; the joint similarly provided with a water-shed, and

'itself lled with concrete. InY the same way,

any desired number of other sections may be added until the post isbuilt upto the desired height. For trolley wires, the three sectionsillustrated are usually su'flicient, but for telegraph and electriclight wires larger and more numerous sections are needed. For highelectric light towers, four of these posts may be employed, but ofcourse each being composed of larger and more numerous sections. It isevident that the sections of tubing may be of any desired shape, eithercircular as in Fig. 4, or oval, square, etc.

A post thus formed, being thus reinforced with concrete, cement or thelike, is manifestly stronger and more rigid than a metal post of thesame thickness of shell. Its joints are also much stronger than thosethreaded together, inasmuch as in the latter much of the width of metalis cut through by the screw-threads, while in the concreted joint, thejoint is the strongest part of the post. The tensile strength is alsogreat, an important feature where the posts are designed for towers; asit is a well known fact that a metal rod will itself tear apart beforeit can be pulled out from a mass of concrete within which it is embeddedfor a sufficient distance. Further, the inner surfaces of the tubularsections being all protected from oxidation by the concrete, while theirouter surfaces are all accessible for painting, these posts can be keptfrom rusting for an indefinite length of time.

The former types of built-up metal posts being jointed directly one tothe other section, were perfect conductors of electricity, but since inmy post the sections are insulated one from the other by concrete, anycurrent communicated to the topmost section cannot reach the lower ones.Hence my form of post will remove vthe danger of electrocuting peoplecontacting with the same, and Will also reduce to practically zero anyof the leakages of current too Small to be noticed. By having thewatershed at the joints, and especially by the overhang thereof, anypossible leakage of current during wet Weather is prevented.

In economy, these posts are striking, since there is no skilled laborexpended in the construction, simply the Work of supporting the sectionsin position and filling them with the cement or concrete. This Work maybe done either at a factory or on the ground Where they are to be used.Since pipe and tubing are only rolled about twenty feet in length, foursections are usually needed for a seventy-five foot pole.

For electric light poles, a central space is provided for the passage ofthe Wires; such space being produced by means of centrally located tubesof paper or the like, as shown at 12 in Fig. 4.

Vhat I claim as my invention and for which I desire Letters Patent is asfollows, to Wit;-

1. A built up post comprising sections of metallic tubing of differentdiameters, a section of smaller diameter being inserted for a limiteddistance Within a section of larger diameter, and lapidescent materialbinding said sections together, said limited distance being sufticientto enable said united sections to effectively resist flexure andtension.

2. A built up post comprising sections of metallic tubing of dierentdiameters, a section of smaller diameter being inserted for a limiteddistance Within a section of larger diameter, and lapidescent materialfilling said sections and binding the same together, said limiteddistance being suiiicient to enable said vunited' sections toeffectively resist fleXure and tension.

3. A built up post comprising sections of metallic tubing of differentdiameters, a section of smaller diameter being inserted for a limiteddistance Within a section of larger diameter, and concrete filling saidsections and the space between the smaller and larger sections, saidlimited distance being suiiicient to enable the concrete to resist anyflexure and tension Which may be applied to the united sections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing invention, I have hereunto setmy hand this 8d day of November, 1910.

ARTHUR WV. FORD.

IVitnesses:

H. L. WHITTLESEY, BEATRICE M. MoRAsH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

